578 DISEASES OF SWINE 



the postmortem examination floors in the large packing houses 

 gives evidence that this disease is of much more frequent occur- 

 rence than commonly believed. 



The most important single symptom of peritonitis is severe 

 abdominal pain. Pain and tenderness of the muscles of the abdo- 

 men are very pronounced. The animal moves about very slowly 

 and carefully, taking very short, carefully measured steps. The 

 head is usually held low and the curl drops out of the tail. The 

 animal will walk in a very straight course, and avoids as much as 

 possible any bending of the body. Later in the disease, when the 

 pain becomes more severe, the animal will lie down, and it is almost 

 impossible to get it to rise. 



There is loss of appetite and vomiting is often a marked charac- 

 teristic. This vomiting is often very severe, agd consists not only 

 of the contents of the stomach, but may also contain intestinal 

 contents as well. At the onset of the disease diarrhea is seen, but 

 later on constipation develops and becomes most obstinate in 

 character. Urine is passed at frequent intervals and often in large 

 amounts. 



The respirations become rapid and are entirely thoracic in 

 character. There is no movement of the abdominal muscles on 

 inspiration, as in the normal animal. Late in the disease thumps 

 may develop. The temperature is high and irregular. In very 

 severe cases it may become subnormal. The pulse becomes ex- 

 ceedingly rapid and wiry in character. Late in the disease the 

 pulse becomes exceedingly thready and often imperceptible. 



In some cases the disease becomes chronic and the symptoms 

 then are largely those of intestinal indigestion. The animal be- 

 comes unthrifty and does poorly. In most cases, after a prolonged 

 illness, death takes place. Many cases, however, make a complete 

 recovery, as is evidenced by the finding of healed lesions of the 

 disease on postmortem meat inspection examinations. 



Treatment. — The preventive treatment consists in giving 

 proper attention to the treatment of wounds and injuries of the 

 abdominal wall as well as to diseases of the stomach and intestine. 

 Where such operations as spaying, castration, or cesarean section 

 are about to be done, extreme care should be taken to see that 

 everything is perfectly clean. The flank should be carefully 



